Scottish Executive

Bridges

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost of construction was of the (a) Erskine Bridge, (b) Forth Road Bridge and (c) Tay Bridge.

Nicol Stephen: Construction costs for Erskine Bridge totalled some £10.7 million. For Forth Road Bridge and Tay Bridge, these are matters for Forth Estuary Transport Authority and Tay Road Bridge Joint Board respectively, which own and operate those bridges.

Bridges

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much has been collected in tolls from the (a) Erskine Bridge, (b) Forth Road Bridge and (c) Tay Bridge in each year since construction.

Nicol Stephen: Total tolls income from Erskine Bridge in each year since construction is detailed in the table:

  

 Year
 Toll Collected 
  (£)


 1971-72
 194,775


 1972-73
 312,273


 1973-74
 359,570


 1974-75
 380,557


 1975-76
 417,495


 1976-77
 471,743


 1977-78
 524,666


 1978-79
 582,760


 1979-80
 525,059


 1980-81
 679,171


 1981-82
 843,467


 1982-83
 1,194,705


 1983-84
 1,257,592


 1984-85
 1,373,882


 1985-86
 1,394,421


 1986-87
 1,506,547


 1987-88
 1,627,605


 1988-89
 1,786,179


 1989-90
 2,360,403


 1990-91
 2,644,825


 1991-92
 2,814,503


 1992-93
 3,888,352


 1993-94
 4,042,217


 1994-95
 4,038,487


 1995-96
 4,288,113


 1996-97
 3,775,926


 1997-98
 4,373,916


 1998-99
 4,513,415


 1999-2000
 4,775,450


 2000-01
 5,000,770


 2001-02
 5,048,387


 2002-03
 *5,390,537



  Notes:

  * Provisional figure.

  For Forth Road Bridge and Tay Bridge, these are matters for Forth Estuary Transport Authority and Tay Road Bridge Joint Board respectively, which own and operate those bridges.

Bridges

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what toll is payable on the (a) Skye Bridge, (b) Erskine Bridge, (c) Forth Road Bridge and (d) Tay Bridge.

Nicol Stephen: The following tables indicate toll payable on each bridge.

  Skye Bridge

  

 Vehicle Description
 Toll Category
 Toll
(each way)
 Book of Discount 
  Tickets


 Motorcycle
 High Season
Low Season
Discount Rate
 £2.90
£2.40
£0.67
 £13.40 for 20 
  Tickets


 Car/Motorhomes
(& transit vans < 5.5m)
 High Season
Low Season
Discount Rate
 £5.70
£4.70
£1.34
 £26.80 for 20 
  Tickets


 LGV
(< 7.5 tons gross)
 High and Low Season
Discount Rate
 £10.80
£7.84
 £78.40 for 10 
  Tickets


 HGV 1
(2 or 3 axles)
 High and Low Season
Discount Season
 £14.00
£10.13
 £101.30 for 10 
  Tickets


 HGV 2
(4 or more axles)
 High and Low Season
Discount Rate
 £27.90
£20.26
 £202.60 for 10 
  Tickets


 Local Bus Service
 High and Low Season
Discount Rate
 £16.40
£12.26
 £122.60 for 10 
  Tickets


 Midi Coach
(seats up to 22 passengers)
 High Season
Low Season
Discount Rate
 £23.70
£15.80
N/A
 


 Coach
(seats more than 22 passengers)
 High Season
Low Season
Discount Rate
 £41.20
£27.90
N/A
 


 Car and Caravan
(or trailer > 2.5m)
 High Season
Low Season
Discount Rate
 £11.40
£9.40
£2.68
 Purchase Car 
  Tickets



  Notes:

  High Season: 1 May to 30 September.

  Low Season: 1 October to 30 April.

  Discount vouchers are valid for 1 year from date of purchase.

  Erskine Bridge

  

 Vehicle Description
 Toll
(each way)
 Book of Discount 
  Tickets


 Motorcycles
 Nil
 N/A


 All Other Vehicles
 £0.60
 £27.00 for 50 
  Tickets



  Tay Bridge

  

 Vehicle Description
 Toll
(one way)
 Book of Discount 
  Tickets


 Car
 £0.80
 N/A


 Bus
 £1.40
 N/A


 LGVs/HGVs
 £2.00
 N/A



  Forth Road Bridge

  

 Vehicle Description
 Toll
(one way)
 Book of Discount 
  Tickets


 Car
 £0.80
 £36.00 for 50 
  Tickets


 Bus
 £1.40
 N/A


 LGVs/HGVs
 £2.00
 £65.00 for 50 
  tickets

Bridges

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether any debt remains to be paid on the (a) Erskine Bridge, (b) Forth Road Bridge and (c) Tay Bridge.

Nicol Stephen: There is no outstanding debt on Erskine Bridge. For the Forth Road Bridge and Tay Bridge, these are matters for Forth Estuary Transport Authority and Tay Road Bridge Joint Board respectively, who own and operate those bridges.

Bridges

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much has been spent on maintenance of the (a) Skye Bridge, (b) Erskine Bridge, (c) Forth Road Bridge and (d) Tay Bridge in each year since construction.

Nicol Stephen: Skye Bridge is maintained and operated by Skye Bridge Limited under the terms of the PFI agreement. Maintenance costs are set out in the company’s annual accounts, which are available from Companies House.

  For Erskine Bridge, maintenance costs in each year are noted in the following table.

  

 Year
 Maintenance 
  Costs (£)


 1971-72
 52,458


 1972-73
 88,274


 1973-74
 100,037


 1974-75
 121,185


 1975-76
 456,192


 1976-77
 681,976


 1977-78
 934,462


 1978-79
 817,467


 1979-80
 814,800


 1980-81
 772,151


 1981-82
 1,564,378


 1982-83
 2,051,090


 1983-84
 966,915


 1984-85
 267,609


 1985-86
 264,615


 1986-87
 278,810


 1987-88
 289,941


 1988-89
 269,878


 1989-90
 40,409


 1990-91
 110,446


 1991-92
 67,157


 1992-93
 188,812


 1993-94
 134,310


 1994-95
 5,370,000


 1995-96
 947,031


 1996-97
 427,990


 1997-98
 241,525


 1998-99
 264,330


 1999-2000
 610,840


 2000-01
 684,086


 2001-02
 794,005


 2002-03
 *1,675,201



  Notes:

  *Provisional figure.

  For Forth Road Bridge and Tay Road Bridge, these are matters for Forth Estuary Transport Authority and Tay Road Bridge Joint Board respectively, which own and operate those bridges.

Crime

Margaret Smith (Edinburgh West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many crimes were recorded in (a) Scotland and (b) the City of Edinburgh Council area in each year from 1990 to 2000.

Cathy Jamieson: The information requested is given in the following table, along with figures for 2001 and 2002 which are also available.

  Crimes Recorded by the Police, 1990 to 2002, Scotland and the City of Edinburgh Council Area

  

 Year
 Scotland
 City 
  of Edinburgh


 1990
 518,522
 58,939


 1991
 572,921
 66,052


 1992
 564,890
 60,843


 1993
 517,247
 58,134


 1994
 500,110
 54,607


 1995
 475,697
 51,770


 1996
 451,956
 50,737


 1997
 420,642
 46,403


 1998
 431,551
 44,976


 1999
 435,703
 54,363


 2000
 423,172
 54,208


 2001
 421,093
 52,034


 2002
 427,034
 52,711

Equine Industry

Mr Andrew Welsh (Angus) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what estimate it has of revenue turnover in the equine industry in the last year.

Mr Jim Wallace: The information requested is not held centrally.

Equine Industry

Mr Andrew Welsh (Angus) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has received with regard to passports for horses.

Ross Finnie: A consultation document on the proposed extension of the horse passport scheme was sent out to interested parties on 17 July 2003. Comments were requested by 14 September 2003 and responses were subsequently received from the following:

  Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals

  National Equine Welfare Council

  Scottish Equestrian Association

  International League for the Protection of Horses

  SAC Veterinary Services

  British Horse Society

  Scottish Icelandic Horse Association

  Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons

  Highland Pony Society

  British Veterinary Association (Scottish Branch)

  British Equestrian Federation

  Shetland Pony Stud Book

  UK Pony Club

  + 3 individuals

  The consultation document was placed on the Scottish Executive website and copies of all responses are available in the Scottish Executive Library.

Europe

Mrs Margaret Ewing (Moray) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what permanent arrangements it has established to ensure the identification, at the earliest possible opportunity, of the implications of proposed EU policies and which ministers are involved in such arrangements.

Mr Andy Kerr: The Executive has a variety of different arrangements in place for identifying, tracking and analysing the implications of EU initiatives throughout the EU policy process, depending on the policy area involved and the likely impact of the proposed measure on the Executive’s responsibilities. All ministers with EU policy interests are involved in these arrangements.

  The Executive also works closely with the UK Government on the implications of proposed EU policies, including on the preparation of explanatory memoranda and regulatory impact assessments.

Europe

Nicola Sturgeon (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Scottish Executive EU Office has authority to represent the Executive on devolved matters to EU institutions and bodies without permission from UKRep.

Mr Andy Kerr: Staff in the Scottish Executive EU Office (SEEUO) have a wide range of meetings and contacts with representatives of EU institutions and bodies. Permission from the UK Permanent Representation to the European Union (UKRep) is not required for such meetings and contacts but UKRep is kept actively involved and informed of SEEUO’s activities to maximise the success of their joint efforts to promote Scottish and wider UK interests in the European Union.

Europe

Nicola Sturgeon (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive on how many occasions the Scottish Executive EU Office has made representations to the EU institutions without the assistance of UKRep.

Mr Andy Kerr: Staff in the Scottish Executive EU Office have a wide range of meetings and contacts with representatives of EU institutions and bodies. These contacts are numerous, take place at many different levels, are not all recorded, and can be in the context of confidential negotiations. Some will directly involve UKRep staff; others will not.

Ferry Services

Campbell Martin (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has regarding any agreement between Caledonian MacBrayne and the Isle of Arran Ferry Committee that would have resulted in the removal of peak-time fares on ferry sailings, with a small across-the-board increase in fares being applied to make such a move revenue-neutral, and what its position is on such an agreement.

Campbell Martin (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it was involved in any agreement between Caledonian MacBrayne and the Isle of Arran Ferry Committee that would have resulted in the removal of peak-time fares on ferry sailings not being put into effect and, if it was involved, whether it is normal practice for it to intervene in such matters and what the reasons for such involvement were.

Nicol Stephen: The Scottish Executive was not involved in any discussions between Caledonian MacBrayne and the Isle of Arran Ferry Committee on the subject of peak fares. However, officials were subsequently informed of these discussions and the ferry committee’s view that peak fares should be removed from the Ardrossan–Brodick route with a compensating increase in other fares. Officials then asked Caledonian MacBrayne to review possible future options related to peak fares on the Ardrossan–Brodick route and the other routes where peak fares apply. The results of this exercise will be considered once these options are received. Ministers expect to be consulted by Caledonian MacBrayne on strategic issues such as the fares structure.

Ferry Services

Tommy Sheridan (Glasgow) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make representations to Her Majesty's Government, Superfast Ferries and Scotland’s maritime unions regarding the impact on the operation of the ferry service of Superfast Ferries recognising the appropriate maritime trade unions in Scotland.

Nicol Stephen: The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with the UK Government on a wide range of issues, including employment rights and duties, which are a matter for the UK Government. I understand that subject to work permit requirements on certain domestic freight and passenger services, the employment of seafarers is a matter for the companies concerned.

Ferry Services

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to extend the remit and powers of the Caledonian MacBrayne Users Committee to include passengers of Symril Line and Superfast Ferries.

Nicol Stephen: No. The ferry services operated by Smyril Line and Superfast Ferries operate on a fully commercial basis. Accordingly, I have no powers to require either company to enter into particular consultative arrangements with ferry users.

Fisheries

Richard Lochhead (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what scientific progress has been made in the last 12 months in support of decoupling the management of cod from other white fish stocks in the North Sea.

Ross Finnie: Our Fisheries Research Services (FRS) Marine Laboratory have been working on the spatial distribution of haddock, nephrops and other species since the start of the year.

  This work was presented at an expert group convened by the European Commission from 28 April to 7 May 2003. Based on the approach used by FRS, the group collated data on the international catch and catch distribution of various stocks. They also used this information to identify potential regulated areas which would reduce associated cod catches by varying degrees.

  This information was also subsequently considered by the International Council for the Exploration of the Seas (ICES) at the May meeting of its Advisory Committee on Fisheries Management (ACFM). This followed a special request from the EU Commission.

  Further progress was made by the Commission’s Scientific Technical and Economic Committee on Fisheries (STECF), which convened on 21-24 October. The group considered spatial aspects of mixed fisheries in the North Sea, with particular regard to the possibilities for identifying areas which might allow fishing on the healthier stocks (e.g. haddock and nephrops) while still offering some protection to recovery plan stocks (such as cod and plaice).

  Officials continue to discuss these issues with the Commission.

  Research has also continued on the selectivity of fishing gear. This has included technical research into various methods designed to encourage the escape of cod from nets (for example, horizontal panels, rising ropes and, in some cases, separator grids).

Genetically Modified Organisms

Bruce Crawford (Mid Scotland and Fife) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will now seek GM-free status for Scotland.

Allan Wilson: It would be contrary to the single market objective of Directive 2001-18-EC to adopt a blanket ban on genetically modified organisms in Scotland, or a part of Scotland, which could not be justified in terms of protection of human health, animal health and the environment.

Mental Health

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made by the Child Health Support Group and NHS boards in implementing the recommendations of the Scottish Needs Assessment Programme’s report on the mental health needs on children and young people.

Mr Tom McCabe: The Child Health Support Group has established a multi-agency and multi-disciplinary Child and Adolescent Mental Health (CAMH) Development Group to work with the Scottish Executive Health Department and NHSScotland to ensure implementation of the recommendations of the Scottish Needs Assessment Programme (SNAP) report on child and adolescent mental health.

  Following consultation with the Child Health Commissioners in August, the CAMH Development Group proposes to develop a "template" for child and adolescent mental health services to support implementation of the SNAP report, and will be organising a national multi-agency event in the spring of 2004 to inform this work. The group is also working with the National Programme for Improving Mental Health and Wellbeing to develop proposals for national initiatives to improve mental health and promote emotional resilience in early childhood and at vulnerable points of teenage transition. A dedicated short-life focus group has been established to consider a strategic approach to the provision of child and adolescent psychiatric in-patient services and is expected to report next year.

  The Scottish Executive has not yet contacted NHS boards to ask about local progress on implementation of the SNAP CAMH recommendations.

Mental Health

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance has been issued to (a) NHS boards and (b) local authorities in respect of the mental health needs of children and young people.

Mr Tom McCabe: A Framework for Mental Health in Scotland (Bib. number 7392) includes a service element section for planners and commissioners of services specifically on child and adolescent mental health services and sections dealing with Psychological Interventions and Eating Disorders also refer to the appropriateness of providing age specific care.

  The Child Health Support Group has established a multi-agency and multi-disciplinary Child and Adolescent Mental Health (CAMH) Development Group to work with the Scottish Executive Health Department and NHSScotland to ensure implementation of the recommendations of the May 2003 Scottish Needs Assessment Programme report (Bib. number 27884) on child and adolescent mental health. Following consultation with the Lead Child Health Commissioners, the group is developing a "template" for child and adolescent mental health services.

Mental Health

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what additional support is being offered to (a) NHS boards and (b) local authorities to implement the recommendations of the Scottish Needs Assessment Programme’s report on the mental health needs of children and young people.

Mr Tom McCabe: The multi-agency Child Health Support Group Child and Adolescent Mental Health (CAMH) Development Group met with the Child Health Commissioners in August to discuss the support needed for implementation of the recommendations of the Scottish Needs Assessment Programme (SNAP) report on child and adolescent mental health. It was suggested that a "template" for child and adolescent mental health services would be helpful to support implementation of the SNAP report, and the CAMH Development Group is taking that forward. A national multi-agency event is planned for spring 2004 to inform this work.

  Child and adolescent mental health is one of the priority objectives for the Changing Children’s Services Fund, an integrated funding stream to support development of better integrated services for the most vulnerable children. Funding will almost double from £33 million in 2002-03 to £65.5 million by 2005-06.

Ministerial Committees

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what the membership is of the Cabinet Sub-Committee on Sustainable Scotland.

Mr Jack McConnell: I chair the Cabinet Sub Committee on Sustainable Scotland and the membership comprises the Deputy First Minister, Ross Finnie, Nicol Stephen, Mary Mulligan, Tavish Scott and Allan Wilson.

Museums

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how Concorde will be conveyed to the Museum of Flight at East Fortune and within what timescale.

Mr Frank McAveety: This is an operational matter for the National Museums of Scotland.

Music Industry

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will support Scottish involvement in UK Trade and Investment and the British Council’s proposal to open a British music industry office in New York.

Mr Jim Wallace: Scottish Development International works alongside UK Trade and Investment to support Scottish music companies in world markets, and will work closely with any British Music industry office that is established in New York. Scottish Development International’s field operations team in the USA can also offer tailored in-market support and temporary office facilities in all major US cities where appropriate.

NHS Funding

Mr David Davidson (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what additional funding will be awarded to NHS boards to fund their new responsibilities for an out of hours service once the new GP contract is introduced and from which budget any such funds will be allocated.

Malcolm Chisholm: Under the terms of the new UK GMS contract, by 31 December 2004 the vast majority of GP practices will be able to apply to have the responsibility for providing out of hours services transferred to the NHS Board. Local NHS boards will have in place alternative arrangements which will need to meet mandatory accredited standards.

  Planning for this new out of hours arrangement is underway. A national working group to look at the issues around out of hours across Scotland in both a rural and urban setting has been set up as part of the implementation process. Membership of the group has been drawn from a range of staff from across the service. The group will, over the coming months, be looking at a range of possible alternative models and arrangements for providing out of hours which will be available to all NHS boards. The remit is to support local NHS systems to identify alternative schemes and promote models of best practice covering a range of populations from urban through to remote and rural.

  There will be an unprecedented increase in funding for the new contract of 33% over three years. Practices who do opt to transfer their responsibility to NHS boards will surrender 6% of their global sum (average £6,000 per GP) to reflect the reduced workload and responsibility. These funds will be available to boards to meet the costs of providing the service in another way. In addition the OOH Development Fund will be increased from the existing level of £6.3 million to £10 million in 2005-06 to help deliver the new arrangements.

National Health Service

Ms Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive at what rate, per patient, Scottish NHS trusts are charged for the "marginal hotel" costs levied by the Golden Jubilee Hospital for those sent for cardiac treatment.

Malcolm Chisholm: The Golden Jubilee National Hospital has charged all relevant NHS boards for activity it has performed since 1 July 2003. An NHS board will be charged a marginal cost of £2,800 for a coronary artery bypass graft performed on one of its residents. A range of other marginal prices are charged for different types of cardiac procedure.

National Health Service

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether patients in Inverness will be consulted regarding the introduction of NHS 24.

Malcolm Chisholm: Meetings were held in advance of launching the service with NHS Highland, Highland Health Council, and the Local Healthcare Co-operative which covers Inverness. Information materials were also distributed to every GP surgery in the area. These materials included posters and leaflets with credit card-sized removable inserts.

National Health Service

Mr Brian Monteith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-926 by Mr Tom McCabe on 15 July 2003, whether the estimated cost of free NHS dental examinations is based on the recommended six-monthly check-up and whether the estimated cost of free NHS sight tests is based on the recommended biennial sight test.

Mr Tom McCabe: The method of calculation of the estimated costs for the NHS dental examinations and NHS sight tests was set out in my reply of 15 July 2003.

People with Disabilities

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has made, or will make, any assessment of financial impacts on transport of the implementation of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995, in particular any consequences the act may have in relation to providing access to buses for wheelchair users.

Nicol Stephen: The Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) is a reserved issue. The Scottish Executive has not made any assessment of the financial impacts on transport of the (DDA).

Police

Bruce Crawford (Mid Scotland and Fife) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the level of Grant Aided Expenditure has been for Fife Constabulary in each of the last four years, including the current year, and what the actual amount spent on policing in Fife was in (a) 2000-01, (b) 2001-02 and (c) 2002-03.

Cathy Jamieson: Policing in Fife is provided almost entirely by Fife Constabulary although officers from a number of other forces or agencies, such as the British Transport Police, also operate within the Fife area. Each year, the Executive sets a level of Grant Aided Expenditure (GAE) for each police force in Scotland. It is then a matter for the police authority (or joint police board) for the area to set a budget for that year. The Executive pays police grant to the value of 51% of that budget up to the level of GAE. Over and above these amounts, the Executive also pays 100% police grant to forces for specific purposes. For Fife Constabulary, these currently include, for example, the costs of policing Rosyth ferry port, funding for financial analysts and funding for analysis of drug driving samples. The following table sets out these various amounts.

  

 
 2000-01
 2001-02
 2002-03
 2003-04


 £ Million
 £ Million
 £ Million
 £ Million


 GAE for Fife Constabulary
 41.7
 44.0
 44.4
 49.5


 Budget set by Police Authority
 41.0
 43.4
 44.4
 49.5


 Additional Executive grants
 0.6
 1.1
 2.1
 n/a*



  *Final figure for 2003-04 not yet available.

Police

Margaret Smith (Edinburgh West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many police officers were employed in (a) Scotland and (b) the City of Edinburgh Council area in each year from 1990 to 2000.

Cathy Jamieson: The numbers of police officers in Scotland in each year between 1990 and 2000 (at 31 December in each year) are shown in the following table. Equivalent information for the number of officers deployed by Lothian and Borders Police in the City of Edinburgh Council area over this period is not held centrally and is a matter for Lothian and Borders Police.

  

 1990
 13,841


 1991
 13,923


 1992
 14,094


 1993
 14,139


 1994
 14,313


 1995
 14,479


 1996
 14,672


 1997
 15,050


 1998
 14,854


 1999
 14,684


 2000
 14,948

Radioactive Waste

Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on the environmental factors that were taken into account when the Dounreay area was ruled out by NIREX in the 1980s as a possible site for long-term nuclear waste storage.

Ross Finnie: This is a matter for Nirex. Details of Nirex’s publications are available on its website at: http://www.nirex.co.uk/.

Radioactive Waste

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-969 by Ross Finnie on 17 July 2003, when it intends to announce the members of the Committee on Radioactive Waste Management.

Ross Finnie: I am pleased to confirm, along with the Secretary of State for the Environment and the Environment Ministers for Northern Ireland and Wales, the appointment of the 12 remaining members to the Committee on Radioactive Waste Management.

  With the help of the chair, Katharine Bryan, we have selected what we believe is a dynamic and varied team of people to review the long-term options for the management of high and intermediate level radioactive waste.

  The appointees are:

  Mary Allan, Ross-shire - Lecturer, School of Business, The North Highland College;

  Professor David Ball, Norfolk - Professor of Risk Management, Middlesex University;

  Fred Barker, West Yorkshire - nuclear policy analyst;

  Dr Keith Baverstock, Finland - former Head of Radiation Protection Division, World Health Organisation;

  Professor Andrew Blowers OBE, Bedfordshire - Professor of Social Sciences at the Open University, local councillor;

  Professor Brian Drummond Clark, Aberdeen - former Professor of Environmental Management and Planning, Board Member of the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency;

  Dr Wynne Davies, Buckinghamshire - Vice President, Group Health, Safety and Environment, Amersham plc;

  Dr Mark Dutton, Cheshire - physicist and nuclear decommissioning expert, NNC;

  Dr Gordon MacKerron, Brighton - economist and energy policy consultant, Associate Director, NERA;

  Professor Lynda Warren, Powys - zoologist and Emeritus Professor of Environmental Law at the University of Wales;

  Jennifer Watson, London - Commissioner, Women's National Commission and Chair; and

  Pete Wilkinson, Suffolk - Director of Wilkinson Environmental Consultancy, former Chair of Greenpeace and co-founder of Friends of the Earth (UK).

Rail Services

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance is given to bidders for the ScotRail franchise to ensure that the needs of cyclists are taken into account.

Nicol Stephen: The new rolling stock being funded by the Scottish Executive will be fitted with 50% increased capacity for carrying bicycles compared with existing similar stock. Bidders were informed that the next ScotRail franchisee will be required to make use of these new units.

  In addition to this, bidders were informed that the new franchisee will, at minimum, be required to maintain the current capacity for the carriage of bicycles on trains and to ensure that bicycles are carried free of charge (the new franchisee may operate a reservation system, subject to appropriate agreement).

  Bidders were also encouraged to consult with key stakeholders, including passengers’ representative groups, in the preparation of their bids.

Regulation of Care

Mike Rumbles (West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to S2W-382 by Mr Tom McCabe on 9 June 2003, whether it is aware of any person who has sold their property in order to fund their care in a local authority care home.

Mr Tom McCabe: The Scottish Executive has received letters about nine cases where people were facing decisions about selling their homes to fund their care home fees, since free personal and nursing care was implemented in July 2002. The letters generally sought advice on the financial assessment decisions of local authorities and the options open to the individuals involved. Therefore, it is not possible to say how many of the nine actually sold their homes.

Scottish Criminal Record Office

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what performance targets were set for the Scottish Criminal Record Office (SCRO) in each of the last two years; how SCRO performed against each of the targets, and what targets have been set for the current year and each of the next three years.

Cathy Jamieson: Numeric performance targets set by the SCRO focus on system availability for the Criminal History System, Police National Computer and Automatic Fingerprint Recognition System, as detailed in the following table for the years 2001-02, 2002-03 and 2003-04.

  Qualitative performance measurement, systems and processes continue to be developed and reviewed to service existing and developing customer needs and expectations. A corporate plan for SCRO, which is being developed with a view to it being in place in 2004, will set targets for the organisation through to 2007.

  Scottish Criminal Record Office - Numeric Performance Targets

  

 Target
 Criminal History 
  System (CHS)
 Police National 
  Computer (PNC)
 Automatic Fingerprint 
  Recognition (AFR)


 
 To ensure that access to the 
  CHS is available 100% of the working year.
 To ensure that access to the 
  PNC is available for 100% of the working year.
 Provide fingerprint service 
  confirming identity or otherwise within 2 hours of receiving 
  images in 96% of cases.


 Performance
 
 
 


 2001-02
 Achieved 99.7%
 Achieved 99.1%
 Achieved 96.5%


 2002-03
 Achieved 99.9%
 Achieved 99.4%
 Achieved 98.05%


 2003-04
 Not yet available
 Not yet available
 Not yet available

Scottish Enterprise

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the total cost will be for this year and the next three financial years of Scottish Enterprise's decision to make their staff pensions non-contributory; when this decision was taken; how many staff will be covered by the new arrangements, and what the approval process was for this decision within both Scottish Enterprise and the Executive.

Mr Jim Wallace: Scottish Enterprise have no plans to introduce a non-contributory pension scheme.

Scottish Enterprise

Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost was to Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise of the rebranding of (a) Business Shops as The Small Business Gateway in 2001 and (b) The Small Business Gateway as The Business Gateway in 2003.

Mr Jim Wallace: This is an operational matter for Scottish Enterprise. The Business Gateway does not extend to the Highlands and Islands Enterprise area. Access to the range of business development services in the Highlands and Islands is through the Local Enterprise Companies who act as a single access point.

Scottish Executive

Shona Robison (Dundee East) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many expert groups it has set up since May 1999.

Shona Robison (Dundee East) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many expert groups set up by it have reported to it since May 1999.

Shona Robison (Dundee East) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many of the expert groups it has set up are still due to report to it and when it expects to receive their reports.

Mr Andy Kerr: As I indicated in my responses to parliamentary questions S2W-942 and S2W-1554 on 14 July 2003 and 13 August 2003 respectively, the information requested is not held centrally. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:

  http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search

Scottish Executive

Shona Robison (Dundee East) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many reports from expert groups have been published since May 1999.

Mr Andy Kerr: The information requested is not held centrally. However, many key reports from such groups are published on the Scottish Executive website at:

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/topics/?pageid=1.

Scottish Executive Expenditure

Nicola Sturgeon (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the annual running costs are of the Scottish Executive EU Office, including details of rent paid for accommodation in Scotland House.

Mr Andy Kerr: The Scottish Executive EU Office budget for 2003-04 is £820,000, of which £45,000 is for rent of office accommodation in Scotland House.

Scottish Executive Staff

Nicola Sturgeon (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many staff it employs in the Scottish Executive EU Office and what their functions and annual costs are.

Mr Andy Kerr: There are 12 posts in the Scottish Executive EU Office (SEEUO). Details of the work of the SEEUO can be found in the Scottish Executive Business Directory, which is available to MSPs. The SEEUO budget for 2003-04 is £820,000.

Social Work

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many vacancies exist in social work children’s services and what proportion this represents of all social work vacancies in each local authority.

Euan Robson: Latest figures show 842 vacancies in local authority social work children’s services across Scotland in 2003. This represents a vacancy rate of 12.9%. A breakdown of children’s services vacancies by local authority is not available at present. Further information is available in Statistical Bulletin SWK-S-2003-25 – Staff of Scottish Local Authority Social Work Services 2002 at:

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/stats/bulletins/00273-00.asp.

Young Offenders

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish annual reports on the performance of youth justice teams against national standards, as recommended in Audit Scotland’s report Dealing with offending by young people – A follow-up report

Cathy Jamieson: The Executive has welcomed the report and accepted all the recommendations.

Young Offenders

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what action is being taken to address the approximately 25% of cases that did not receive a continuous service for children on supervision, as referred to in Audit Scotland’s report Dealing with offending by young people – A follow-up report .

Cathy Jamieson: Local authorities are responsible in statute for implementing supervision requirements. I intend to meet shortly with local authority Chief Executives to discuss the Audit Scotland report, what needs to change to improve service delivery, and how best to accelerate progress in these key areas.

Young Offenders

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what action is being taken to ensure that all young adults on probation have action plans as required in the national objectives and standards for social work services in the criminal justice system, as recommended in Audit Scotland’s report  Dealing with offending by young people – A follow-up report .

Cathy Jamieson: We are currently considering the need for interim guidance to be issued to groupings/unitary authorities to draw their attention to this recommendation. The guidance will be informed by the programme of Inspections of criminal justice social work by the Social Work Services Inspectorate, which has now commenced.

  The Audit Scotland recommendation will also be taken account of in the planned revision of national standards, on which preliminary work has already begun.

Young Offenders

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what action is being taken to address the time taken for police reports to reach the Children’s Reporter, given that Audit Scotland’s report Dealing with offending by young people – A follow-up report indicates that two police forces had no such data available and that 28% of cases recorded by the Central Scotland police force met the 14-day prescribed period.

Cathy Jamieson: Time Intervals has been in place since 1999. The Executive has been consulting all agencies, including the police, over the summer on a new way to re-focus the process of monitoring and improving performance.

  This issue will be discussed at my next meeting with the Association of Chief Police Officers Scotland.

Young Offenders

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to provide specialist mental health services in residential settings and young offenders institutions, as referred to in Audit Scotland’s report Dealing with offending by young people – A follow-up report .

Mr Tom McCabe: We recognise the need to strengthen specialist mental health input for children and young people in residential settings and young offender institutions, and officials are considering with NHSScotland how this can be achieved more effectively. NHSScotland mental health input to residential schools, secure units and Young Offenders’ Institutions is currently restricted by workforce shortages across Scotland within child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS). A National Mental Health Workforce Group has recently been established and CAMHS is a recognised priority for attention.

  Mental health input to residential settings is also being considered in the context of the recommendations of the Scottish needs assessment programme review of child and adolescent mental health, which reported in March 2003. The report highlights the need for the development of a multi-agency approach to child and adolescent mental health alongside specialist services. The child health support group has established a child and adolescent mental health development group to support implementation of the report.

Young Offenders

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to submit social care and police reports to the Reporter, as referred to in Audit Scotland’s report Dealing with offending by young people – A follow-up report .

Cathy Jamieson: The Executive does not itself submit the reports referred to, which are the responsibility of councils and the police respectively.

  I refer the member to the answer given to question S2W-3923. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

Young Offenders

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what action is being taken to ensure that all local authorities implement the statutory requirement to provide care plans for all children on supervision

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will review the quality of current records for children on supervision, as recommended in Audit Scotland’s report Dealing with offending by young people – A follow-up report .

Cathy Jamieson: I intend to meet shortly with local authority Chief Executives to discuss the Audit Scotland report, what needs to change to improve service delivery, and how best to accelerate progress in these key areas.

Young Offenders

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will set standards for the frequency of contact with children on supervision, as recommended in Audit Scotland’s report Dealing with offending by young people – A follow-up report.

Cathy Jamieson: Social Work Services Inspectorate will be issuing a guidance note shortly setting minimum standards for frequency of contact and case notes. Forthcoming plans for inspection of children’s services will also focus on the quality of delivery by youth justice services .

Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body

Holyrood Project

Scott Barrie (Dunfermline West) (Lab): To ask the Presiding Officer what the outcome has been of the recent consultations about the question and answer sessions held by the Holyrood progress group.

Mr George Reid: : The Convener of the Holyrood progress group (HPG) has confirmed that the results of the consultation exercise to determine whether or not MSPs wished to continue with the HPG question and answer sessions are as follows:

  

 In favour of discontinuation
 59


 In favour of continuation
 16


 Abstentions
 3



  The HPG has therefore taken the decision to discontinue these sessions with immediate effect.